Hari Naam Sankirtan Report - West Delhi, India, 5th September 2009
"Hari Nama Sankirtana" was held on 5th September 2009 in Delhi. Kirtan started from a KRSNA temple at BL Block in Hari Nagar
after performing arati, Hari Nama Kirtan and opening address. Over 250 people participated. Snacks and softdrinks were served.
The Rath Yatra started at 4.30 pm passing through Shiva Nagar main road, Virendra Nagar, Shiva Nagar lanes and bylanes, BE Block,
Janakpuri, Jail Road and back to BL Block. Distance covered was about 5 km. It took nearly 5 hours march-time and ended at about 9.00 pm.
Large numbers of people kept joining the procession and the crowd swelled to nearly 3000. A nice and sumptuous dinner prasadam was served
at 9.30.pm to over 700 invitees and devotees in the premesis of the KRSNA temple.
The Ratha of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Srimati Subhadra was elegantly built and pleasingly decorated, and pulled with
ropes by many persons. Offerings unto the lotus feet of the deities were placed by all and sundry. Along the way, there were nearly 40
stalls of juices and other eatables established by shop-keepers and locals voluntarily.
Many buntings and banners adorned the entire route.
85 bhoga items were prepared by Dhananjaya Prabhu's family and friends. The Ratha Yatra, in view of this being the first attempt, was
a great success. The organisers, particularly Dhananjaya Prabhu and family, deserve high appreciation and congratulations.
H.G. Jayananda Prabhu
ISKCON, Vrindavan
Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obesciances unto your lotus feet!!!!
I am writing a narration of a unique event which took place in West Delhi on 05th Sept. 2009. It is very difficult to write the experience in words but I’ll try to do it as a service to Vaishnavas.
I remember how all this started when we got a mail from HH Vedavyaspriya Swami and he had a strong desire that devotees in Delhi should participate in World Holy name week
(on 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Sanyasa order) by arranging a Hari Naam Sankirtan in local area.
And devotees of Hari Nagar, Shiv Nagar and Janakpuri along with ISKCON Punjabi Bagh decided to go for it.
We were 2 Bhakti-vrksha groups and had many meetings with temple authorities and among ourselves. HG Dhananjaya Prabhu, HG Gokula Hari Prabhu, HG Atul Krishna Prabhu, Rajeev Prabhu,
HG Umashakti Mataji, Sachin Sahni prabhu, Kamal Prabhu, Rakesh Prabhu and many others were in organizing committee. Everything was arranged and Banners were displayed on main roads
and on the route planned for Hari Naam Sankirtan.
Banners displayed – WELCOME DEVOTEES IN HARI NAAM SANKIRTAN ON OCCASSION OF WORLD HOLY NAME WEEK.
Sri Krishna Balaram
and Prabhupada’s pictures were seen on these banners making it truly an ISKCON event. Along with this Srila Prabhupada’s Hare Krishna Dhun was being played in loud speakers at main road
and thousands of people passing this busy road were listening the holy names of the Lord from last 3 days. Devotees were preparing day and night for the Sankirtan. A small moving Temple
Rath (made from autorikshaw) carrying deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baldev and Subhadra along with Prabhupada was also arranged by devotees.
Finally the day came and the Sankirtan yatra was ready to get started from BL Block, Hari Nagar. An altar was made there and Their Lordships Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Subhadra along with Sri Sri Gaur Nitai were offered more than 56 Bhogas cooked by devotees.
Temple Rath was beautifully decorated with flower garlands and flowers. At around 4:30 pm, melodious kirtan was started by HG Udhavahari prabhu and HG Keshav Murari prabhu from Punjabi Bagh temple. Many senior devotees were present in the procession including HG Rukmini Krishna Prabhuji (Co-president ISKCON Punjabi Bagh), HG Krishna Hari Prabhu, HG Jayananda Prabhu (Vrindavan) and HG Radhika Kripa Mataji along with many IYF devotees.
Around 150 devotees from Punjabi Bagh temple joined the Sankirtan. Around 1500-2000 local people attended the Hari Naam Sankirtan and chanted holy names of Lord, many of them stayed till last.
Hari Naam Sankirtan was welcomed at around 50 places in 3 kilometre route and different food items were distributed to the devotees attending the Hari Naam Sankirtan. Arati was done at many places in between. All different people – Sikhs were also welcoming Lord Jagannath and distributing prasadam at various points.
Melodious Hare Krishna Mahamatra was heard in small streets of densely populated area of Hari Nagar, Virender Nagar and Shiv Nagar. Everywhere people were dancing on melodious ecstatic Hare Krishna kirtan and flowers were pouring down by devotees from their houses in welcome of the Hari Naam Sankirtan. This took form of a Small Jagannath Rath Yatra. IYF devotees of ISKCON Punjabi Bagh were taking full opportunity in distributing
Srila Prabhupada books and Bhagvat Gita was being distributed on a very special discounted price.
Small children of Bhakta Prahlad School were also distributing Prabhupada books and people were taking Krishna Conscious literatures to their homes. We never expected it that people will relish and take part in this event with such enthusiasm but it was reality and potency of Holy names which attracted the crowds of people and engaged them in Krishna’s service. Moving along the busy roads and showering mercy, Hari Naam Sankirtan – Mini Jagannath Rath Yatra finally reached the finishing place.
At the final point prasadam was arranged for devotees and everybody took prasadam and left for their respective places. This was a very relishable experience to see how Holy names attract everybody and engage them in Krishna’s service.
Lord Chaitanya’s mission of spreading holy names is very auspicious and whole credit goes to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who gave all of us opportunity to serve in spreading Lord Chaitanya’s mission.
Success of this event firms our faith more in Krishna Consciousness and words of pure devotees. All credit goes to Srila Prabhupada and his disciples who are engaged in service carrying out his instructions.
We pray to Sri Sri Radha Radhika Raman and Sri Sri Krishna Balaram and HDG Srila Prabhupada so that they engage us more in such events and increase our faith in Holy names. Please forgive me for any mistakes committed in narration of this event.
All Glories to Holy Names!!!!
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!!!!
World Holy name ki Jai !!!!
In service
Ramrajyadas
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